Gear mechanism



April 15, 1930,

A. M. DELLINGER GEAR MECHANISM Filed Oct. 29, 192B Patented Apr. 15, 1930 ABRAHAM M. DELLINGER, 0F LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA GEAR MECHANISM Application filed October 29, 1928. Serial No. 315,815.

This invention relates to speed reducing mechanism primarily intended for use in hammer-type grinding mills such as now in extensive use 011 farms for grinding grain, hay, vines, stems and other suitable farm produce in the preparation of ground and mixed stock, poultry, etc., feeds, and in such use is driven from the rotor shaft and interposed in the driving connections between said shaft and the usual feed rolls to reduce the speed of the feed rolls to suitable limits in comparison with the rotor, which is usually driven in such type of mills at a speed ranging between 2,000 to 2,400 rotations per minute.

The primary objects of the present invention are, to provide simple manually adj ustable means for positively selectively varying the speed of rotation of said feed rolls over a wide range between a maximum speed of say 35 rotations per minute and a mimimum speed of say 5 rotations per minute, whereby the rate of feed of the material being operated upon may be very definitely and closely regulated in accordance with the nature of such material and the capacity of the power plant; to provide such a reduction gear in which the parts may be moved to change the speed of said feed rolls without stopping, or modifying the speed of rotation of, the hammer rotor during such adjustment; to provide in such a reduction gear a novel combination of two parallel shafts, a plurality of gears of progessively increasing diameter keyed to one of said shafts, a gear keyed to the other shaft, and means partially rotatable about the latter gear and adjustable for selectively establishing driving connection between the same and any one of said plurality of gears; to provide simple means for locking said combination of gears in driving engagement; and to provide simple means for positively preventing misalignment of the gears during adjustment from one selective speed to another, all as hereinafter more particularly set forth, described and claimed.

It may be well to observe that with a given capacity of power plant some materials to be ground, for instance oats, should be fed in much slower than others, such as hay, for instance, the feed rolls should be rotated at the rate of 5 rotations per minute in handling oats and up to 35 rotations a minute in handling some kinds of hay, and other materials usually operated on by these mills will require, for best results, a wide range of speeds between these two extremes. The above we tremes, however, are mentioned merely by 6,

way of illustration of the point and with no intention to limit myself thereto.

In the present application I have shown and described the preferred form of my in vention simply by way of the illustration of R Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows fi and omitting all parts of the casing except bar1L 30 and also pulley G and drive belt F; anc

Figure 4, a sectional view on line 4-4: of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows and omitting bar 30.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, A designates the mill casing and frame, B the feed table, hopper, trough or chute in which material is placed to be fed to the machine by means of usual feed rolls, not shown,

mounted respectively on the shafts 27 and 29 inside of the casing to turn with said shafts, C represents the main drive shaft mounted in the casing and on which the hammer-rotor having a pulley D on one end to be driven by a belt, not shown, from a suitable power plant, not shown, and having a pulley E mounted on its other end to turn therewith and driving a belt F to drive pulleyt G mount- 1 is mounted to turn therewith, said shaft C ed on the end of shaft 1 to turn therewith, said shaft 1 and companion parallel shaft 16 being mounted in bearings carried by heavy vertical supporting reinforcing bars or beams H secured in proper aligned position the front portions of the respective sides of the casing A, the construction thus far referred to being usual-conventional construction in this art."

A pinion 2 having relatively long axially extending thin. walled sleeves2 extending-inopposite directions from its radially extending medial peripherally toothed portion is mounted on said shaft 1 to have sliding move ment axially thereof for, in the embodiment illustrated, practically the entire length of said shaft between its supporting bearings and is interlockedtherewith by a long key orisplin'e'3'to tu'i'n'therewith in all positions of'said pinion 2 axially of the shaft 1.

A casing 7 is mounted by its upper end for partial'rotation' or swinging movement about said'pinion 2 and its sleeves 2 and to this end has its upper end formed with oppositely extending axial sleeves 7" in which are arrangedsuitable anti-friction, such as Babbit metal, bearings 4 of the proper internal diameter to receive and cooperate with the respective sleeves 2 of said pinion 2, as illus trated in Figure4. Said long sleeves 2 serve to guard against possible canting of thepinion 2as it is moved axially of the shaft 1 to the desired position'of adjustment, and also serve as an efiicient convenient means on which to mount the upper end of the casing 7 for swinging movement. Said casing 7 maybe comprised of two plate members fittingtogether in a direction axial of shaft 1, as shown in Fig. 41, and said plates may be secured together by screws or suitable fastening means9 passing transversely through lapping finsextending in lapping engagement from the opposed adjacent portions of the plates, or by welding, or by both means and may be secured together at any convenient points and at as many points as may be desired or considered necessary.

In said casing are mounted for rotation t'wo'pinions and 6 preferably respectively integral with their shafts, which shafts are suitably supported in bearings in said opposed plates forming said casing. Said pin ion 5 is at all times in mesh with pinion 2 mounted on shaft-1 and with'pinion 6, as illusn-ated iarigure 3. Said pinions 2, 5 and 6 constitut-ie' a, train of ,gears driven by shaft 1, the end pinion 60f such train rotating in the's ame direction as shaft 1 and selectively engaging ,any one of the gear wheels a, b, c,- of, 69/, 51, [1,2' and j; all keyedto shaft 16' by'key or long spline 17 and held with their adj aceiitaxial faceslin engagementand against movement axially of; said shaft 16 by suitable stop means or collars 16 ,respectively a'r ranged at opposite ends of such composite gear cone and Welded to or otherwise suitably held against axial movement on shaft 16. r

A pinion 18 mounted on one end portion of shaft- 16 serves to drive a chain 19 passing about a sprocket or drive wheel 20 mounted on the corresponding end portion of a shaft 21 to turn therewith to drive said shaft. A smaller sprocket or drive wheel 22'mounted on said shaft 21 to turn therewith and located thereon between sprocket or drive wheel 20 and the adjacent side of the casing A serves to drivea long drive chain 23 which passes about suitable idlers 24: and 25 to keep the chain taut and indr-iving engagement about and between pinions 26 and 28 which are respectively mounted on the end portions to turn therewith of the respective feed roll shafts 27 and 29.

The relative diameters of the pulleys E and G, and sprocket or chain drive wheels 18, 20, 22, 26 and'28, and the length of chain 23 will'be so calculated as, in a general way, to

reduce the speed of rotation of the feed'roll shafts 27 and 29, which rotate in the direction of'the arrows to the desired point with rela tion to the speed of rotation of the hammer rotor so that this re'duced spe'ed of the feed rollsmay be used as the'starting point for further'se'lectiv'e variation" of the speedof said rolls within wide limits considering now the. speed of said fe'e-drolls as distinguished from the speedof the rotor.

In the embodiment illustrated I have shown ten gears a; to inclusive mounted on-shaft 16 to turn therewith and ofregular' progressive- 1y increasing diameter from a to j, the relation between the rest of the drive mechanism'and the gears or pinions 2, 5 and 6 being such that minute, the gears b, 0, d, 0, f, g, h and i being regularly progressiy ely of different diameters to provide a wide range of selective speeds between these twoextremes'to suit working conditions as they vary in accordance with the material being operated upon and the power available.

Of course the gears could be so proportioned that theextreme slow speed would be less than 5* rotations'per minute of the feed rolls, and so that their maximum speed of rotation would exceed 1'otations per minute, with relation to a given speed of rotation of the main drive shaft C, and the'number of gears keyed to the shaft 16 betweenthe two end gears may be more or less than as illustrated. i

To provide for the easy and quick adjustment of the speed of the feed rolls without stopping or modifying the speed of the shaft C and to prevent misalignment of the train of 2, 5 and 6 with the selected gear keyed to shaft 16, I provide a rack-bar 30, which may be secured to the members H to hold it firmly in position, as shown in Figure 2 and form the lower edge portion thereof with a series of notches a, Z), 0, d, e, f, g, rifl andj,arrangedin succession in the order stated and form long finger or rib 8 on the casing 7. Said linger 8 is of such thickness as to make a snug fit in the respective notches to prevent its movement therein axially of the shaft 1 when engaged in any one of said notches, and of such length transversely of the shaft 1 that the casing 7 must be partially rotated about said shaft 1 and pinion 2 to a point where the adjacent portion of pinion 6 will lie at a greater distance from the axis of the shaft 16 than the peripheral outer faces of the teeth of gear Wheel j, which is the gearwheel of greatest diameter on the shaft 16. W hen the casing 7 has been swung upward about shaft 1 and pinion 2 to this point, that is, to neutral position, the finger or rib 8 will have been partially rotated with said casing about its axis so as to lie inward and clear of the rack 30. The gear casing 7 with the pinion 2 may then be moved axially of shaft 1 to the desired notch and corresponding gear, and then a downward swinging movement of the casing 7 will serve to turn the finger 8 in the reverse direction to fit into the notch of the selected gear, to prevent any axial movement of said casing and gear or pinion 2 relative to shaft 1 and the composite cone of gears. Continued downward swinging movement of the casing 7 will move the pinion 6 into driving mesh with the gear selected. For instance, if the slowest speed of the feed rolls is desired, the casing 7 will be swung upward until in neutral position, as above de scribed, and then will be moved axially of shaft 1. causing pinion 2 to slide axially with it, until the rib or finger 8 is opposite notch j, at which time the pinion 6 will be in registry with gear j, when the casing 7 will be swung down, as above described, until the pinion 6 meshes with gear j, the finger or rib 8 turning into the notch y" as above explained and preventing misalignment and relative axial movement. If the highest speed of rotation of the feed rolls is desired the easing 7 will be manipulated as above described so that the finger or rib 8 is located in slot or notch a and pinion 6 is in mesh with gear a. If any one of the intermediate speeds is de sired, the casing will be manipulated as above described so that as finally adjusted the finger or rib 8 is located in one of the notches b, 0, d, e, f, g, h or z" and the pinion 6 in mesh with the corresponding gear of the gears Z), 0-, (Z, 6, 7, g, it and 2' respectively.

To facilitate the manipulation of the easing 7 I provide the same with a handle or hand-gap 31. For holding the casing 7 down so as to maintain the pinion 6 in proper driving mesh, with the gear a, b, 0, (Z, 6, f, 9, lat or y with which it may be selectively engaged, 1 provide means adjustable in the direction of the axis of the shafts 1 and 16 and adjustable toward and from the same and cooperating with means for locking the same and said casing against relative movement in a transverse plane perpendicular to the axes of said shafts in any one of the selective op erative positions of said casing 7 i Such holcldown means comprises a straight rod 12 adapted to be gripped and clamped against a portion of the casing 7, for instance the handle 31 thereof, by a hooked 0r clamping member 10. Said member 10 has a screwthreaded stem passing through said portion of said casing 8 and receiving a nut having an operative lever or arm 11 whereby said nut may be turned on said stem to draw the hook or clamping portion 10 thereof into tight frictional locking engagement with the rod 12. The upper end of said rod 12 may be offset as shown to provide a stop for the upward swinging movement of the casing and the rod be of such length that when the casin 7 is swung up to neutral position, as above described it will be in contact with said step, so that the movement to neutral position may be made quickly and with complete assurance with no need to closely observe the position of the linger or rib 8 with relation to the bar 30. The lower end of said rod 12 will preferably be formed into the eye 13 loosely fitting about a rod 1 1 suitably held in the arms of a bracket 15 secured to the front beam 1 of the two base supporting beams I, or otherwise suitably rigidly mounted in proper position with relation to the casing 7 andcooperating parts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the eye 13 of the rod 12 can sllde axially of the rod or bar 14: in accordance with the axial movement and adjusted position of the easing 7, and that said rod 12 may swing about said bar 141 as may be necessary during the swinging movement of said caslng 7.

The upper feed roll with its shaft 27 and pinion 26 will preferably be mounted for movement toward and from the lower feed roll while continuing to be driven by chain 23 to allow the feeding in of corn-cobs and other relatively thick objects without nterrupting the feeding operation and wlthout impairing their efficiency to also feed in smaller material, this being usual practice and not forming part of my present invention and thus not being illustrated.

Any suitable materials may be used for any of the parts.

Having; thus described my invention, What I claim as newanddesire tosecure by United States; Letters Patent is;

1. A; selective speed gearmechanism comprising a drive shaft, a drive pinion slidably mounted-fthereone to turntherewith, a driven shaft, and a plurality of gearsof different diameters, mounted thereon to turn therewith,

incombination-with a casing mounted on said drive pin-ion for swinging movement about the axis thereof and movable therewith axially of said 'drive shaft, a plurality of pinions ;mounted for intermeshing engagement in said casing and driven by said drivepinion,

said casingbeing movable to cause one of said plurality of pinions tomesh with any selected one of saidtplurality of gears to drive the same, awgrippingelement carried-by said casing, a;bar-extending parallel to and in fixed relation with, said shafts, a rod mounted on saidu'bar for free swinging movement about the axis thereof andfree for sliding movementsaxially, thereof and extending through said: gripping means, and means for causing said grippingelement to bind on said rod to hold saidjcasing-against swinging movement about said drive pinion.

2..A'. selective speed gear mechanism comprising adriving-sliaft, a drive; pinion slidably mounted' thereon to turn therewith, a driven,shaft,,,and plurality of gears of different diameters, mounted thereon to turn therewith, in combination with a casing mounted on'said drive pinion for swinging movement about, the; axis thereof and movabletherewithvaxially, of said drive shaft, a plurality. offpinions mounted for intermeshing engagement in said'casing and driven by said drive pinion, said casing being movable tocause one of'said plurality of pinions to mesh with any selected one of 7 said. plurality ofgears to1drivethe same, a grippin elementzcarried'by. said, casing, arod anc ored by. its. lower end; portion against upward movement in the direction of its length and swingablein a direction transverse of said shaftsandi-freeto move bodily with said casmg and drive" pinion axially of said. drive shaftandlhavingyslidable engagement in said gripping means,,and means-for causing-said grippingmeansto=bind1on said rod to hold said casing against swinging movementabout said drive pinion,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this; specification at Lancaster, Pennsylvania this27th day of October, 1928.

' ABRAHAM DELLINGER. 

